Meeting Effectiveness
Better Meetings. Better Decisions. Better Organisations.
Meetings shape organisations.
Every important decision.
Every strategic direction.
Every project.
Every budget.
Every policy.
Every successful organisation is built on thousands of conversations that take place around meeting tables.
Yet meetings are often criticised as being the biggest waste of time in business.
I don’t believe meetings are the problem.
Poor meetings are.
For more than 40 years I have helped organisations improve the quality of their meetings because better meetings lead to better decisions, stronger leadership and more effective organisations.
What Is Meeting Effectiveness?
Meeting effectiveness is not measured by how quickly a meeting finishes.
Nor is it measured by how closely people follow an agenda.
A meeting is effective when it achieves its purpose while making the best possible use of the knowledge, experience and time of the people in the room.
Effective meetings create:
Better decisions
Clear accountability
Greater engagement
Stronger governance
Better communication
Faster progress
Greater trust
More productive organisations
When meetings improve, everything that depends on those meetings improves as well.
Why Meetings Go Wrong
Most meetings don’t fail because people lack intelligence or commitment.
They fail because nobody has taught people how to meet well.
The same problems appear again and again.
People arrive unprepared.
Objectives are unclear.
Discussion drifts.
One or two voices dominate.
Important issues remain untouched.
Difficult conversations are avoided.
Decisions are vague.
Actions disappear once the meeting finishes.
The encouraging news is that every one of these problems can be addressed.
My Philosophy
Meeting effectiveness is not about more rules.
It is about better thinking.
Good meetings are built on:
Purpose.
Preparation.
Participation.
Respect.
Process.
Accountability.
When those six elements are present, meetings become places where people contribute confidently, challenge ideas respectfully and make decisions that move the organisation forward.
That is the environment I help organisations create.
Looking Beyond the Agenda
Most people focus on what is happening in the meeting.
I focus on why it is happening.
I watch the conversation.
I watch the relationships.
I watch the energy.
I notice the questions that haven’t been asked.
The ideas that haven’t been explored.
The voices that haven’t been heard.
Like a hawk soaring overhead, I continually move between the broader picture and the smallest detail.
Sometimes the breakthrough comes from introducing a new process.
More often, it comes from helping people have a better conversation.
How I Help
Every organisation is different.
Some need better governance.
Some need stronger Chairs.
Others need an independent facilitator.
Some simply want meetings that achieve more in less time.
My work includes:
Meeting effectiveness reviews
Observation and feedback
Independent facilitation
Independent Chair services
Strategic planning facilitation
Chair coaching
Board effectiveness
Governance advice
Meeting procedure
Professional minute-taking training
Leadership team development
Workshops and keynote presentations
Every engagement is tailored to the needs of the organisation.
Why Organisations Choose David Price
For more than four decades I have specialised in one thing.
Helping organisations improve the way they meet.
Along the way I have:
Worked with boards, executive teams and leadership groups
Facilitated strategic planning workshops
Chaired important meetings
Observed hundreds of meetings
Written books on meetings
Answered meeting questions from people around the world
Developed practical tools that organisations continue using long after I have left
Clients appreciate my practical approach.
They know I combine governance, facilitation, communication and leadership with an understanding of how people think, behave and make decisions together.
Who I Work With
I work with organisations of every size, including:
Corporate organisations
Boards and directors
Executive leadership teams
Local government
Professional associations
Community organisations
Not-for-profit organisations
Business owners
Whether your meetings involve six people or sixty, the objective remains the same.
Helping people think better together.
Resources to Help You Improve Your Meetings
Improving meeting effectiveness doesn’t end when the workshop finishes.
I have developed a wide range of practical resources to help organisations continue improving, including:
Books
Workshops
Masterclasses
Professional minute-taking programmes
Chairing meetings programmes
The Meetings Question Vault
Articles and practical guides
Videos and online learning resources
Everything is designed to help organisations create meetings that are productive, engaging and worthwhile.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is meeting effectiveness?
Meeting effectiveness is the ability of a meeting to achieve its purpose while making the best use of the time, knowledge and experience of everyone involved.
Can meeting effectiveness be measured?
Yes.
Meeting effectiveness can be assessed by reviewing preparation, participation, decision making, follow-up, governance and the overall value the meeting creates for the organisation.
Do you review meetings?
Absolutely.
Observing meetings and providing practical recommendations is often the quickest way to improve meeting performance.
Is meeting effectiveness just about governance?
No.
Governance is important, but meeting effectiveness also involves leadership, communication, facilitation, decision making, participation and organisational culture.
Do you provide training?
Yes.
I deliver keynote presentations, workshops, coaching and masterclasses covering every aspect of meeting effectiveness.
Every Great Organisation Is Built on Great Meetings
Meetings are where ideas become decisions.
Decisions become actions.
Actions become results.
When meetings improve, organisations improve.
If your organisation is ready to create meetings that are more productive, more engaging and more valuable, I’d welcome the opportunity to help.
Together, we’ll create meetings that people leave thinking, “That was time well spent.”